Three successive away games may sound like a daunting prospect but the Reds are not about to get perturbed by the challenge ahead.
Three successive away games may sound like a daunting prospect but the Reds are not about to get perturbed by the challenge ahead.
In the next three weeks Adelaide United will travel to Perth before heading to Melbourne twice to tackle the league-s two Victorian sides in a period that is certain to give Coach Josep Gombau an indication of the mental strength and resolve in his playing group.
The upcoming three away games, which sees the Reds not back at home until December 6, is due to the venue change of its Round 1 and 6 fixtures against Perth Glory due to stadium unavailability – the Reds originally scheduled to pay in Perth in the opening round and at home this weekend.
This has meant that the Reds are preparing to venture over to the west this weekend to tackle the Glory and their new marquee man William Gallas, who is expected to make his highly anticipated debut in Saturday-s game.
Then it is over to Melbourne in consecutive weeks to first face the Victory on November 23 at Etihad Stadium before meeting the Heart at AAMI Park on Sunday, December 1.
Throw in the added pressure of having not taken a point from their past three games and three away games could easily be viewed as the last thing the Reds would want. However, while the two games on their travels so far have not produced positive results, there have been a number of positive signs from those encounters.
Preparing to play just his second game of the season after overcoming a quad injury, Cassio says the tough road schedule ahead is an ideal time to see exactly where they are at in their progression and prove they have the mettle to not only perform but return with points.
“Of course it-s better to play at home, especially in the situation we are in now, but we can-t choose where we play…wherever we go, to Perth and Melbourne, in this league they are all hard games,” Cassio said.
“It-s tough three games away but it-s a pressure, the players have to take it and we carry a lot of people behind us, a lot of supporters are waiting for a good performance, so we-re ready for a good week at training and to win this game on Saturday.”
For Reds fans in South Australia who will have to wait until Brisbane Roar come to town on December 6 for the next game in Adelaide, summer can-t come quick enough. Cassio and Reds will just be hoping that their return to Coopers Stadium will be on the back of three victories on the road.
